China's Exports See 2nd Straight Monthly Fall
Exports fall two months in a row for the first time in a decade, reflecting the impact of the global financial crisis on the "world's factory".
According to figures to be released by China Customs today, exports in December dropped 2.8 percent year-on-year, after falling 2.2 percent in November.
Imports also dropped in December by 21.3 percent year-on-year, after having fallen 17.9 per cent the previous month.

China Becomes Formal Member of Inter-American Development Bank Group
On Monday (Jan 12th), China joined the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the most important regional development institution in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB group, founded in 1959 and based in Washington D.C., is the oldest and largest regional inter-governmental development and financial institution. Its purpose is to promote economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. China became on Monday the 48th country to join the group.

Chinese Mainland Naval Fleet Escorts Taiwan Merchant Ship off Somalia
Chinese mainland's navel fleet continued on Monday its escort mission, helping 4 more ships including one from Taiwan to cross unharmed the Gulf of the Aden off the coast of Somalia. The Wuhan, one of the destroyers follow the ships for 553 sea miles and sent two groups of naval special forces onboard the first and the last ship.